Disposable cartridge filled with a single serve portion of a liquid ingredient to be combined with a base liquid for the preparation of a liquid product

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a disposable cartridge filled with a single serve portion of a liquid ingredient to be combined with a base liquid for the preparation of a liquid product, e.g. a beverage concentrate to be combined with water, e.g. carbonated water, for the preparation of a beverage suitable for human consumption. The cartridge comprises a vertically extending channel that extends to a dispensing aperture in the bottom of the cartridge and one or more dispensing passages extending between a reservoir and the outside of the cartridge. The dispensing passages are provided with outlet openings located adjacent the aperture such that the base liquid and the liquid ingredient are dispensed in parallel flows, the liquid ingredient subsequently coating the exterior of the stream of base liquid, such that actual mixing of the liquid ingredient and base liquid only takes place after both have been dispensed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Dutch Application No. NL2013824 entitled “DISPOSABLE CARTRIDGE FILLED WITH A SINGLE SERVEPORTION OF A LIQUID INGREDIENT TO BE COMBINED WITH A BASE LIQUID FOR THEPREPARATION OF A LIQUID PRODUCT”, filed on Nov. 17, 2014, and to DutchApplication No. NL 2013947 entitled “SYSTEM, DISPOSABLE CARTRIDGE, ANDMETHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF A LIQUID PRODUCT”, filed on Dec. 9, 2014,and assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated byreference herein.

The present invention relates to a disposable cartridge filled with asingle serve portion of a liquid ingredient to be combined with a baseliquid for the preparation of a liquid product, e.g. a liquid foodproduct suitable for human consumption, e.g. a beverage concentrate tobe combined with water, e.g. carbonated water, for the preparation of abeverage.

Examples of disposable cartridge based beverage preparation systems arefor example disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,346, WO2005/077811,WO2007/114685, US2014/0331868, and US2015/0125586.

The present invention aims to provide improvements or at least usefulalternatives. For example prior art systems have unsatisfactory resultswhen it comes to the preparation of a carbonated beverage, e.g. incomparison to the same beverage being dispensed from a bottle or can.Also for example the need exists for cartridges that are easy to handleby consumers and/or are attractive in view of mass production and costs.

According to a first aspect thereof the present invention proposes acartridge for the production of a beverage from a stream of a baseliquid, the cartridge defining a flow channel for passage of the streamof base liquid through or along the cartridge and comprising a reservoirfor receiving a liquid ingredient, the reservoir comprising at least onedispensing passage through which the ingredient can exit the reservoirand contact the stream of base liquid and a seal for initially closingthe dispensing passage, wherein the dispensing passage comprises athrottle region having a relatively smaller flow cross-section and adispensing passage outlet opening for contact with the stream of baseliquid having a relatively larger flow cross-section, the throttleregion being between the dispensing passage outlet opening and thereservoir.

The disposable cartridge may be embodied to have the features accordingto claim 1 or hereinafter described.

The cartridge according to the first aspect of the invention is inparticular suited for the preparation of a carbonated beverage, whereinthe liquid ingredient flavors and/or colors the stream of carbonatedwater that flows through the channel in the column.

In this design the carbonated water simply passes through the channelfrom the inlet to the dispensing aperture and emerges from thisdispensing aperture as a stream of carbonated water. As will beexplained the flow of the carbonated water is preferably not hindered ordisturbed in any manner while passing through the cartridge, preferablythe channel forming a rectilinear extension of the duct in the feedlance of similar cross-section. Also the dispensing from the dispensingaperture is preferably not hindered in any way, preferably straight downinto a drinking vessel for the consumer without any contact with aportion of the cartridge or of the apparatus. By avoiding disturbancesof the carbonated water flow the effect is achieved that the carbondioxide gas dissolved in the carbonated water is retained therein asmuch as possible. This is beneficial for the quality of the beverage andalso allows for efficient use of carbon dioxide gas, e.g. of importancewhen the carbon dioxide gas is stored in a gas bottle that needs to bereplaced by a consumer when empty.

In this design the liquid ingredient, or syrup as often referred to inthe beverage industry, does not enter into the channel through which thecarbonated water or other base liquid flows. Instead the liquidingredient is dispensed from the one or more dispensing passage outletopenings which are arranged so that the dispensed liquid ingredientmerges with the exterior of the stream of carbonated water that emergesfrom the dispensing aperture.

As the exterior of the stream of carbonated water shows by itself a sortof turbulence due to the expansion and/or escape of some of thedissolved carbon dioxide the merged flow of liquid ingredient is thengradually entrained in the carbonated water stream and becomes mixedtherewith very effectively. It has been observed that this causesminimal loss of carbon dioxide from the carbonated water, e.g. incomparison to a design of a cartridge with a mixing chamber wherecarbonated water and liquid ingredient are made to collide and mix. Soin practical terms the process of merging or joining of the liquidingredient with the stream of dispensed carbonated water takes placedirectly downstream of the dispensing aperture of the cartridge, theintimate mixing being an autonomous process that effectively takes placewhilst the stream travels towards and into the drinking vessel.

Preferably said liquid ingredient streams as an annular shroud aroundthe emerging stream of carbonated water.

Preferably the liquid ingredient emerging from the one or moredispensing passage outlet openings has a direction generally parallel tothe stream of base liquid, e.g. carbonated water, emerging from thedispensing aperture, e.g. so as to avoid any undue disturbance of thecarbonated water stream.

In this design the premade hole in the bottom sealing film, aligned withthe dispensing aperture, e.g. having a diameter the same or similar tosaid dispensing aperture, avoids the risk of said bottom sealing film,or portion thereof, interfering with the stream of base liquid emergingfrom the dispensing aperture. As explained, in view of retention ofcarbon dioxide and/or other gas in the carbonated water, it is desirableto not hinder the stream as any hindrance causes loss of gas from thestream.

Also, in this design, there is no need for the user to remove the bottomsealing film. The cartridge causes the effective opening of the bottomsealing film due to the column being moved to its lower dispensingposition.

The top sealing film may extend over the inlet of the channel, but inanother design the top sealing film also has a hole that is then alignedwith the inlet of the channel.

As is preferred the channel is rectilinear and vertical.

The column is preferably located centrally in the cartridge with thereservoir extending as an annular reservoir around the column. Forexample the cartridge has a circumferential wall that is generallycircular in cross-section, concentrically around the column. It ishowever not excluded that the column and/or the channel is locatedoff-centre or at one side of the reservoir. It is even possible that thechannel is formed externally of the cartridge, whereby the stream ofbase liquid effectively bypasses the cartridge and the base liquid andthe liquid ingredient merge thereafter.

For example the cartridge is provided with an identificationrepresenting the liquid ingredient therein, e.g. a barcode or otherwise,allowing a dispensing apparatus to read said identification in order toprovide via the feed lance the appropriate base liquid.

In an embodiment the one or more dispensing passage outlet openings arearranged, preferably in a circular arrangement, around the dispensingaperture and the bottom sealing film hermetically seals the at least oneor more dispensing passage outlet openings, wherein the bottom sealingfilm is adapted to rupture and/or to tear away from the dispensingpassage outlet openings due to the column being moved downwards to itslower dispensing position, thereby opening the dispensing passage outletopenings. This embodiment allows for the bottom sealing film to directlyseal the one or more outlet openings, thereby obviating the need for anyfurther valve or the like to close the dispensing passages. As will beexplained herein, in embodiments, such a valve, e.g. in the reservoirexternal of the column, may be provided in designs where the bottomsealing film is absent or when a further seal is desired.

In an embodiment the portion of the column that projects upwards fromthe bottom of the cartridge body to the top end of the column is anupper portion of the column, and the column further has a lower footportion, which foot portion projects downwards from the bottom of thecartridge body to said bottom end of the column, such that the bottomsurface of the wall of the column and the dispensing aperture at thebottom end of the column are spaced from the bottom of the cartridgebody. This feature allows for an effective opening of the bottom sealingfilm as the foot portion of the column may be protruded into and throughthe premade hole in the bottom sealing film as the column is moved toits lower dispensing position. Also this design allows to avoid anydesire of the liquid ingredient to adhere to the bottom of the cartridgeand stick thereon and/or flow away from the dispensing aperture wherethe ingredient merges with the stream of base liquid.

In a preferred embodiment the one or more dispensing passages arearranged in the wall of the column, and the dispensing passage outletopenings are provided in a bottom surface of the wall of the column.This design effectively creates a duct or ducts within the thickness ofthe relevant portion of the column, e.g. within the abovementioned footportion which is preferred. The dispensing passages may comprisesmultiple semi-circular cross-section passages, seen in verticaldirection, e.g. each associated with one inlet opening, e.g. the oneinlet opening having a cross-section that is a fraction of thecross-section of the dispensing passage, e.g. at most half thecross-section.

In another embodiment the one or more dispensing passages are at leastpartially arranged in the bottom of the cartridge body, wherein the oneor more dispensing passage outlet openings are arranged in the bottom ofthe cartridge body, adjacent to a foot portion of the column, preferablyin a circular arrangement around the foot portion of the column, so thatliquid ingredient emerging from said one or more dispensing passageoutlet openings contacts an outside surface of the wall of the footportion of the column, and flows over the outside surface of the wall ofthe column to merge with a base liquid stream emerging from thedispensing aperture at the bottom end of the column. Therefore, insteadof flowing through passages within the thickness of the wall, the liquidingredient flows along an outside surface until it reaches the lower endthereof and then merges with the base liquid stream emerging from thedispensing aperture.

In another embodiment the one or more dispensing passages are arrangedin the wall of the column, wherein the dispensing passage outletopenings are provided in an outside surface of the wall of a footportion of the column, between the bottom of the cartridge body and thebottom end of the column, so that liquid ingredient emerging from saidone or more dispensing passage outlet openings flows over the outsidesurface of the wall of the column to merge with a base liquid streamemerging from the dispensing aperture at the bottom end of the column.

In another embodiment the foot portion of the column has a first portionadjacent the bottom of the cartridge body with a first diameter and anadjoining second portion with a second diameter smaller than said firstdiameter, which first and second foot portion are separated by ashoulder, wherein the one or more dispensing passages are arranged inthe wall of the column, and wherein the dispensing passage outletopenings are provided in the shoulder, so that liquid ingredientemerging from said one or more dispensing passage outlet openings flowsover the outside surface of the wall of the lower foot portion to mergewith a base liquid stream emerging from the dispensing aperture at thebottom end of the column.

In an embodiment one or more discharge grooves are provided in anoutside surface of a foot portion of the column for guiding the liquidingredient that emerged from the one or more discharge outlet openings,each discharge groove extending from one or more dispensing passageoutlet openings towards the bottom end of the column, preferably up tothe end face of the foot portion of the column. The one or more groovesmay serve to distribute the flow of liquid ingredient, e.g. to form thementioned shroud of the liquid ingredient around the stream of baseliquid emerging from the dispensing aperture. The one or more groovesmay also be structured to slowdown the liquid ingredient as it emergesfrom the one or more outlet openings and/or to direct said flow to aflow that is substantially parallel, e.g. vertical, to the emergingstream of base liquid.

In an embodiment which is aimed to create a well-directed stream of baseliquid that merges and then mixes autonomously with the liquidingredient the bottom surface of the wall of the column extendsperpendicular to a central axis of the channel.

In an embodiment the one or more outlet openings of the one or moredispensing passages are arranged to dispense the liquid ingredient as anannular shroud around the exterior of the stream of base liquid.

In an embodiment the bottom sealing film has an inner loop shapedsealing area, which is sealed around the dispensing aperture, and anouter loop shaped sealing area, which is sealed to the cartridge bodyremote from the one or more dispensing passage outlet openings, e.g. toa non-flexible part of the bottom of the cartridge. It is then envisagedthat the inner loop shaped area will release upon motion of the columnto its lower dispensing position, whereas the outer loop shaped arearemains fixed to the cartridge. Preferably a foot portion of the columnis effectively pushed into and through the premade hole in the bottomsealing film, preferably without the bottom sealing film being torn,when the column is moved into its dispensing position.

In an embodiment the top sealing film is openable, e.g. pierceable orotherwise, so as to allow for introduction of a pressurized gas into thereservoir in order to pressurize the liquid ingredient therein so as toassist dispensing thereof via the one or more dispensing passages. Thegas may be introduced in any appropriate way, e.g. by means of a cannulaor gas passage or by pressurizing a sealed chamber communicating withthe cartridge and the reservoir.

In an embodiment the cartridge body comprises one or more top sealingfilm piercing members which are arranged in the reservoir underneath thetop sealing film, which seal piercing members have a cutting toppositioned near the top seal for, when the top sealing film is moveddownwards, for example due to the column being moved downwards from itsinitial position to its lower dispensing position, engaging the topsealing film and locally rupture the top sealing film thereby providingone or more holes that allow for introduction of pressurized gas intothe reservoir. This design avoids the need for any piercing of the topsealing film by a tool or member of the dispensing apparatus, which toolor member would then be prone to some contamination as liquid ingredientmay or will stick to the underside of the top sealing film. Also anysuch tool or member would complicate the design of the dispensingapparatus and/or might be objectionable as being sharp or pointed inview of contact therewith by the consumer.

In an alternative embodiment for creating one or more gas pressureintroduction openings in the top sealing film, or in combination withone or more of said internal piercing members, the top sealing film isprovided with one or more premade score lines that rupture upon motionof the column to the lower dispensing position. This motion causes, asthe top sealing film is secured to the top of the column as well asaround an outer perimeter thereof, a stretching of the top sealing film.The score lines cause stresses that are too high and thus the film willthen rupture. This rupturing may be assisted by the presence of one ormore piercing members underneath the top sealing film.

In an embodiment a top seal piercing member of the cartridge has abottom end integral with the bottom of the cartridge and a bodyextending from the bottom upwards through the reservoir to the cuttingtop located near the top seal, and optionally has a side that isintegral with a circumferential wall.

In an embodiment the combined area or cross-section of the one or moredispensing passage outlet openings is multiple times larger than thecombined area of the one or more dispensing passage inlet openings, e.g.at least 10 times larger. This embodiment of the dispensing passageoutlets is of particular advantage when the dispensing apparatus that isused in conjunction with the cartridge is adapted to exert an expulsionforce on the liquid ingredient in the reservoir, e.g. a gas pressure onthe liquid ingredient in the reservoir. The relatively narrow inletopenings than act as a throttle for the liquid ingredient which allowsto create a stable flow rate into the one or more dispensing passages onthe basis of the expulsion force. The larger size of the outlet openingsof the same dispensing passage(s) then allows for a slowdown orretarding of the liquid ingredient before it finally emerges from theoutlet opening. It will thus be understood that the throttle region maybe located at the inlet of the dispensing passage or passages but thatit may also be defined at an intermediate position to the extent that itis upstream of the dispensing passage outlet opening or openings.

In an embodiment the one or more dispensing passages are provided with aflow restriction, preferably a fixed or constant flow restriction formedas a portion of the dispensing passage, e.g. in the form of one or morenarrow inlet openings, for example the combined inlet openings or otherflow restriction portions having a cross section of at most 8 mm2. Forexample one or more inlet openings have a cross section of between 1 and2 mm2 each. It will be appreciated that depending on the viscosity ofthe liquid ingredient to be dispensed from the reservoir the flowrestriction can be tailored upon manufacturing of the cartridge.

In an embodiment a dispensing passage inlet opening is oriented at anangle relative to an adjoining section of the dispensing passage suchthat a jet of liquid ingredient passing through the inlet opening, e.g.embodied as a flow restriction of the passages, collides against a wallportion of the passage thereby reducing, preferably annihilating, thespeed of said jet.

In an embodiment the one or more dispensing passages are provided with arelatively narrow inflow section and a relatively wide outflow section,such that the narrow inflow section forms a restriction for a flow ofliquid ingredient that flows from the reservoir to the dispensingpassage outlet openings. The wide outflow section then allows for aslowdown of the liquid ingredient before it emerges from the outletopening(s). In an embodiment the outflow section extends substantiallyparallel to the channel in the column and the inlet section extends atan angle to the outflow section, such that a jet of liquid ingredientpassing through the inlet opening, e.g. due to gas pressurization of theliquid ingredient, collides against a wall portion of the outflowsection, thereby reducing, preferably annihilating, the speed of saidjet.

In an embodiment the top sealing film is provided with a premade holethat is aligned with the inlet of the channel. In another embodiment thetop sealing film covers and seals the inlet of the channel in thecolumn. It is then envisaged that the base liquid feed lance can piercethrough said top sealing film to feed base liquid to said inlet of thechannel.

In an embodiment the channel in the column has an upper portion with afirst diameter and an adjoining lower portion extending to saiddispensing aperture, said lower portion and dispensing aperture having asecond diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than said seconddiameter. This stepped diameter of the channel allows to introduce afront end of the feed lance into the wider upper portion, wherein,preferably the duct within the feed lance has an inner diameter thatsubstantially corresponds to the second diameter. In this mannerapproximately a constant diameter ducts is created for the base liquid,e.g. carbonated water, through the feed lance and the adjoining portionof the channel in the cartridge. This avoids or at least reduces unduedisturbance of the flow, which in the event of carbonated water wouldresult in an extra loss of carbon dioxide gas from the water.

In an embodiment the dispensing aperture of the channel of the column,preferably also the adjoining second portion of the channel, has adiameter between 5 and 20 millimeter, e.g. between 8 and 16 mm, e.g.about 10 millimeter.

In an embodiment the cartridge body has a circumferential wall having anupper rim bounding an opening, wherein the top sealing film is fixed tosaid upper rim, e.g. the rim being embodied as an outwardly projectingflange, e.g. said radially projecting flange being embodied to supportthe cartridge on a bearing surface of a dispensing apparatus, e.g. on adrawer of such apparatus.

In an embodiment the cartridge body has a circumferential wall aroundthe perimeter of the bottom, wherein the channel is concentric relativeto an axis of the circumferential wall of the cartridge. In otherembodiments the column is offset from the center of the cartridge, e.g.adjacent one side of the circumferential wall.

In an embodiment the cartridge body comprises an injection moldedmonolithic plastic body part, the monolithic plastic body part at leastcomprising a circumferential wall, a bottom, and a portion of thecolumn, e.g. a foot portion of the column and possibly also a lower partof the upper portion of the column, e.g. the part defining theabove-mentioned second diameter, wherein, in an embodiment, theremainder of the column is embodied as a separately molded plastic partthat is fitted onto the lower part of the upper portion of the column.The latter embodiment may e.g. be advantageous in view of injectionmolding technology, as it allows for simplification of the mold for themonolithic plastic body part.

In an embodiment a valve member is arranged within the reservoir of thecartridge and outside of the column, which valve member is stationaryarranged within the cartridge so as to be movable, e.g. slideable,relative to the column when the column is moved from its higher initialposition to its lower dispensing position,

wherein—in the higher initial position of the column—the valve membercloses the one or more dispensing passages, such that the reservoir isclosed, and

wherein—in the lower dispensing position of the column—the valve memberhas moved away from the one or more dispensing passages, such that thereservoir is opened. This embodiment affords a closing of the reservoirright at the inlet of the one or more dispensing passages.

The present invention further relates to a system for the preparation ofa liquid product, e.g. a liquid food product, e.g. a beverage, whichsystem comprises:

a) a disposable cartridge filled with a single serve portion of a liquidingredient as described herein,

b) a dispensing apparatus, e.g. a beverage dispensing apparatus, theapparatus being at least provided with:

-   -   a holder for accommodating and retaining the disposable        cartridge at a dispensing location in the device,    -   a base liquid feed assembly with a base liquid feed lance        disposed at the dispensing location, which lance is embodied to        connect to the channel of the column of the disposable        cartridge, e.g. whilst piercing through the top sealing film of        the cartridge, so that base liquid can be fed into the channel,    -   an operable displacement device which is adapted to produce a        movement of the holder for the cartridge and the base liquid        feed lance relative to each other, so that when the displacement        device is operated the lance connects to the column, moves the        column down relative to the top of the cartridge body, and        thereby causes the bottom sealing film to rupture and/or tear        away from dispensing aperture, thereby allowing dispensing of        the liquid ingredient from the one or more passage outlet        openings,

and wherein the base liquid feed assembly is adapted to feed base liquidinto said channel, which base liquid emerges as a stream from thedispensing aperture, said liquid ingredient dispensed from the one ormore passage outlet openings merging with an exterior of said baseliquid stream.

In an embodiment the dispensing apparatus further comprises:

-   -   a pressurized gas source, preferably a pressurized air source,        e.g. an air pump,    -   a pressurization dome member having annular gas seal that is        adapted to sealingly engage the top of the cartridge, e.g. the        top sealing film, e.g. at or near an upper rim of the        circumferential wall of the disposable cartridge, and

wherein the system is adapted to open, e.g. pierce, break, ruptureand/or tear away at least part of the top sealing film, and

wherein the pressurized gas source is connected to the pressurizationdome member so as to allow feeding of pressurized gas beneath said domemember when the gas seal thereof sealingly engages the top of thedisposable cartridge and the top sealing film has been opened, to allowentry of pressurized gas into the reservoir to pressurize said liquidingredient therein to thereby assist the dispensing thereof from thereservoir via the one or more dispensing passages.

In an embodiment the disposable cartridge is embodied with one or morepiercing members, so that—due to the column being moved downwards fromits initial position to its lower dispensing position—the one or moretop sealing film piercing members arranged in the reservoir underneaththe top sealing film engage the top sealing film and locally rupture thetop sealing film thereby providing one or more holes that allow forintroduction of the pressurized gas into the reservoir.

In an embodiment the top sealing film is provided with one or morepremade score lines, e.g. by laser machining the top sealing film, andwherein said one or more premade score lines are adapted to rupture andthereby open the top sealing film due to the column being moveddownwards from its initial position to its lower dispensing position.

In an embodiment the dispensing apparatus comprises a connection to awater mains or other water supply, a water chiller and a holding tankfor chilled water, a carbonator device connected to a source of carbondioxide gas, e.g. to a bottle of carbon dioxide gas, e.g. an inlinecarbonator adapted to dissolve carbon dioxide gas into a stream ofchilled water that flows through a water duct from said chilled waterholding tank to said base liquid feed lance as a single serving isprepared.

In an embodiment the liquid feed assembly is equipped to feed water asthe base liquid, e.g. carbonated water, e.g. selectively carbonated andnon-carbonated water, e.g. chilled, non-chilled, and/or hotnon-carbonated water.

In an embodiment the dispensing apparatus comprises:

-   -   a frame,    -   a cartridge holder, e.g. a drawer, adapted to hold the cartridge        in a dispensing location relative to the frame of the apparatus,

wherein the operable displacement device is adapted to produce amovement of the base liquid feed lance relative to frame, e.g. avertical up and down motion, wherein the base liquid feed lance isintegrated with the pressurization dome member having said annular gasseal so as to move in unison.

In an embodiment a first flexible hose connects to the liquid feed lanceand a second flexible hose connects to the pressurization dome member.

In an embodiment the holder for the cartridge is equipped to accommodateand retain the cartridge in a substantially horizontal position with thebottom downwards, the holder having an aperture below the bottom of thecartridge in such a way that during dispensing of the liquid productsaid product remains clear of the holder.

The present invention also relates to a method for preparation of aliquid product, e.g. a carbonated beverage, wherein use is made of acartridge and/or system and/or apparatus as defined herein or in theaccompanying claims.

The invention furthermore provides a disposable cartridge filled with asingle serve portion of a liquid ingredient to be combined with a baseliquid for the preparation of a liquid product, e.g. a liquid foodproduct suitable for human consumption, e.g. a beverage concentrate tobe combined with water, e.g. carbonated water, for the preparation of abeverage, the disposable cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body, e.g. molded plastic body, with a bottom and a top, thebody delimiting a reservoir that is filled with a single serve portionof a liquid ingredient,

wherein the top has an aperture in communication with said reservoir,which aperture is hermetically sealed by a top sealing film,

wherein the cartridge body further comprises a column having a portionthat projects upwards from the bottom to an upper side of the column,

wherein a vertically extending channel extends through the column froman inlet at a top end thereof to an aperture in the bottom of thecartridge body,

wherein the bottom has a flexible portion adjacent, e.g. around thecolumn, such that the column is movable downwards by a force exertedthereon relative to the top of the body, e.g. an upper edge of acircumferential wall of the body, between a higher initial position anda lower dispensing position,

wherein a valve member is arranged within the cartridge and outside ofthe column, which valve member is stationary arranged within thecartridge so as to be movable, e.g. slidable, relative to the columnwhen the column is moved from its higher initial position to its lowerdispensing position,

wherein the cartridge body is provided with one or more dispensingpassages arranged to dispense the liquid ingredient from the reservoir,

wherein—in the higher initial position of the column—the valve membercloses the one or more dispensing passages, such that the reservoir isclosed,

and wherein—in the lower dispensing position of the column—the valvemember has moved away from the one or more dispensing passages, suchthat the reservoir is opened,

and wherein a base liquid feed lance is connectable to the inlet of thechannel in the column, so that the base liquid can be fed into thechannel and exit the cartridge via the aperture in the bottom of thecartridge,

wherein, preferably, said one or more dispensing passages are arrangedsuch that the dispensed liquid ingredient is combined with the baseliquid within the channel or at or near the outlet of the channel.

In an embodiment of a cartridge according to the invention, the valvemember arranged within the cartridge is combined with a bottom sealingfilm adapted to rupture and/or to tear away from the dispensing passageoutlet openings due to the column being moved downwards to its lowerdispensing position, thereby opening the dispensing passage outletopenings.

It will be appreciated by the skilled person that a technical featurediscussed herein as required or as optional with respect to oneembodiment of the invention may be equally applicable to one or moreother embodiments described herein, with the feature performing itsdesignation function. Such combinations are all envisaged herein unlessa combination would result in a technical impossible solution and/or notmeet the desired functionality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of an example of asystem according to the invention, the system comprising a dispensingapparatus, part of which is shown, and a disposable cartridge with asingle serve portion of a liquid ingredient, e.g. a beverageconcentrate, to be combined with a base liquid for the preparation of aliquid product;

FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective bottom view of the cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows in cross sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 1 withoutliquid ingredient;

FIG. 5 shows a partial close up of a cross sectional view of thecartridge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a partial close up of a cross sectional view of thecartridge of FIG. 1, with a column in a dispensing position;

FIG. 7 shows a partial close up of a perspective bottom view of thecartridge of FIG. 1, with a column in a dispensing position;

FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 4, withouta top seal and a bottom seal;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective top view of the cartridge of FIG. 1, with acolumn in a dispensing position;

FIG. 10 shows a cross sectional side view of the system of FIG. 1, priorto the start of a dispensing cycle;

FIG. 11 shows a cross sectional side view of the system of FIG. 1,during a dispensing cycle;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective cross sectional view of the cartridge ofFIG. 1, with a supply flow of water, e.g. carbonated water, via achannel in the column in the dispensing position and with a flow ofliquid ingredient from outlet openings; and

FIG. 13-15 schematically show partial cross sectional views ofalternative dispensing channels in a cartridge according to theinvention;

FIG. 16 shows a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of acartridge, the cartridge being provided with an internal valve;

FIG. 17 shows a cross sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 16, withthe column of the cartridge in a dispensing position;

FIG. 18 schematically shows the beverage dispensing apparatus andcartridge of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 19 schematically shows an alternative cartridge and a strippingmember for removing a bottom seal of that cartridge away from adispensing aperture.

In this description, according to a preferred application of theinvention, the liquid ingredient is a beverage concentrate that is to becombined with a flow of carbonated water to fill a single servecontainer, e.g. a drinking glass, with a single serving of a carbonatedbeverage.

In an embodiment the device also, or alternatively, is embodied tocombine the liquid ingredient with non-carbonated water, e.g. hot orcold non-carbonated water. Generally carbonated water will be coldwater.

Whilst use in the field of preparation of carbonated beverages isenvisaged it will be clear that the inventive cartridge and/or apparatuscan also be employed for the preparation of other liquid products, e.g.in the pharmaceutical field, etc.

According to a first aspect thereof the present invention provides adisposable cartridge filled with a single serve portion of a liquidingredient to be combined with a base liquid for the preparation of aliquid product, e.g. a liquid food product suitable for humanconsumption. The present invention further relates to a system for thepreparation of a liquid product, e.g. a liquid food product, e.g. abeverage.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of an example of asystem 1 for the preparation of a liquid product, e.g. a liquid foodproduct, e.g. a beverage, according to the invention. The systemcomprises a dispensing apparatus, e.g. a beverage dispensing apparatus,2 and a disposable cartridge 3. In FIGS. 1, 10 and 11 only part of thedispensing apparatus 2 is shown. FIG. 18 schematically shows thebeverage dispensing apparatus 2, comprising the part shown in FIGS. 1,10 and 11, and cartridge of FIG. 1.

The system is configured to combine a single serve portion of a liquidingredient 4, e.g. a beverage concentrate, held in the disposablecartridge 3 with a base liquid provided by the apparatus 2, to thusprepare the liquid product. In FIG. 1 the system is shown prior to thestart of a dispensing cycle.

Here below, first the disposable cartridge will be discussed in moredetail, than the dispensing apparatus and the system.

The disposable cartridge 3, shown in cross section in FIG. 2, is filledwith a single serve portion of a liquid ingredient 4, e.g. a beverageconcentrate to be combined with water, e.g. carbonated water, for thepreparation of a beverage. FIGS. 4, 5 and 8 show cross sectional viewsof the same disposable cartridge without the liquid ingredient.

The disposable cartridge 3 comprises a cartridge body 5, a top sealingfilm 6 and a bottom sealing film 7. The cartridge body 5 delimits areservoir 8 that, in FIG. 2 is filled with the single serve portion of aliquid ingredient 4. The cartridge body 5 has a bottom 9 and a top 10.The top 10 has an aperture 11 in communication with the reservoir 8,which aperture is hermetically sealed by a top sealing film 6.

The cartridge body 5 further comprises a column 12 having a portion thatprojects upwards from the bottom 9 of the cartridge body 5 to a top end13 of the column 12.

A channel 14 extends through the column 12 from an inlet 26 at said topend of the column to a dispensing aperture 15 at a bottom end 16 of thecolumn 12, which dispensing aperture is located at the side of thebottom 9 of the cartridge body 5.

The column 12 has a wall 17 having an inside surface 18 that delimitsthe channel 14, a bottom surface 19 at the bottom end 16 of the columnand a top surface 20 at the top end 13 of the column. The top sealingfilm 6 is sealed to said top end 13 of the column 12.

A base liquid feed lance 30 of the dispensing apparatus 2 is connectableto the inlet of the channel 14 in the column 12, allowing to feed baseliquid into the channel and to dispense a stream of base liquid via thedispensing aperture 15, said stream having an exterior.

The bottom 9 of the cartridge body 5 has a flexible portion 21 adjacent,e.g. around, the column 12, such that the column is movable downwards bya force exerted thereon relative to the top 10 of the cartridge body,e.g. to an upper edge of a circumferential wall of the cartridge body,between a higher initial position, shown for example in FIGS. 2 and 4,and a lower dispensing position, shown in FIG. 6.

According to the invention, the cartridge body 5 is furthermore providedwith one or more dispensing passages, in the embodiment shown with twodispensing passage 22, adapted to dispense the liquid ingredient 4 fromthe reservoir 8. In the embodiment shown, the dispensing passages 22each have one dispensing passage inlet opening 23 arranged so thatliquid ingredient in the reservoir 8 can enter the one or moredispensing passages 22, and one dispensing passage outlet opening 24.The dispensing passage outlet openings 24 are arranged so that the flowof liquid ingredient 54 emerging therefrom merges with an exterior of abase liquid stream 53 that is dispensed from the dispensing aperture 15at the bottom end 16 of the column 12, see FIG. 12.

It is noted that in an alternative embodiment, dispensing passages maybe provided with multiple inlet openings and/or with multiple outletopenings and/or dispensing passages may share inlet openings and/oroutlet openings.

The disposable cartridge 3 has a bottom sealing film 7 provided with ahole 25, and is placed against, i.e. along the side of, the bottom ofthe cartridge body such that the hole of the sealing film is alignedwith the dispensing aperture 15 of the column 12. The bottom sealingfilm 7 is sealed to the cartridge body 5 at the column 12 and at one ormore locations remote from the column 12.

In the embodiment shown, the bottom sealing film 7 has an inner loopshaped sealing area, which is sealed to the bottom end 6 of the column8, around the dispensing aperture 15, and an outer loop shaped sealingarea, which is sealed to the cartridge body 5 remote from the dispensingpassage outlet openings 24, to a non-flexible part 50 of the bottom ofthe cartridge 9.

According to the invention, the bottom sealing film 7 will ruptureand/or to tear away from the dispensing aperture 15 due to the column 12being moved downwards to its lower dispensing position, thereby allowingdispensing from the passage outlet openings 24.

In the embodiment shown, the inner loop shaped area will release uponmotion of the column to its lower dispensing position, whereas the outerloop shaped area remains fixed to the cartridge. FIG. 5 shows thedisposable cartridge with the column 12 in its higher initial positionsand the bottom sealing film 7 sealing of the dispensing passage outletopenings 24. FIGS. 6 and 7 show the disposable cartridge with the column12 in its lower dispensing position and with the bottom sealing filmtorn away from the dispensing aperture 15 and the dispensing passageoutlet openings 24, thereby allowing the liquid ingredient to bedispensed via the dispensing passages.

The bottom sealing film 7 has a hole that corresponds to the dispensingaperture or outlet 15 from which the base liquid stream emerges from thecartridge. This design, e.g. like a disc with a central hole therein asshape of the bottom sealing film, avoids that after rupture of thebottom sealing film, any flaps of the ruptured film interfere with theflow of base liquid. As will be appreciate such interference would bedetrimental for the carbon dioxide retention in the emitted base liquidstream.

In an embodiment the bottom sealing film is provided with one or morepremade score lines, e.g. by laser machining the top sealing film, whichone or more premade score lines are adapted to rupture and thereby openthe sealing film due to the seal being stretched, for example by thefeed lance moving the column downwards from its initial position to itslower dispensing position.

Providing the bottom seal with a hole that corresponds to the dispensingaperture 15 of the cartridge 3 also allows for an embodiment in whichthe bottom seal is configured to stretch such that the part of thecolumn, or at least the part of the column with the dispensing passageoutlet openings, can pass through it to free the dispensing passageoutlet openings and allow for the liquid ingredient to be dispensed viathe dispensing passages, as is shown in FIG. 7. In such an embodiment,the bottom sealing film is mainly stretched and tearing of the seal maybe little or even not present.

The cartridge 3 is in particular suited for the preparation of acarbonated beverage, wherein the liquid ingredient 4 flavors and/orcolors a stream of carbonated water that is dispensed via the channel 14in the column 12. The design of the disposable cartridge 3 allows forcarbonated water to simply pass through the channel 14, from the inlet26 to the dispensing aperture 12 and emerge from this dispensingaperture as a stream of carbonated water.

During a dispensing cycle, the liquid ingredient 4 is dispensed from thereservoir 8 via the dispensing passages 22, of which the outlet openings24 are arranged so that the dispensed liquid ingredient 54 merges withthe exterior of the stream of carbonated water 53 after that stream hasemerged from the dispensing aperture 15 at the bottom side of thecartridge, see FIG. 12. Thus, the flow of liquid ingredient is added tothe flow of carbonated water without disturbing that flow. By avoidingdisturbances of the carbonated water flow the effect is achieved thatthe carbon dioxide gas dissolved in the carbonated water is retainedtherein as much as possible. This is beneficial for the quality of thebeverage and also allows for efficient use of carbon dioxide gas, e.g.of importance when the carbon dioxide gas is stored in a gas bottle thatneeds to be replaced by a consumer when empty.

It is noted that the exterior of the stream of carbonated water shows byitself a sort of turbulence due to the expansion and/or escape of someof the dissolved carbon dioxide. Thus, the merged flow of liquidingredient is then gradually entrained in the carbonated water streamand becomes mixed therewith very effectively. It has been observed thatthis causes minimal loss of carbon dioxide from the carbonated water,e.g. in comparison to a design of a cartridge with a mixing chamberwhere carbonated water and liquid ingredient are made to collide andmix. So in practical terms the process of merging or joining of theliquid ingredient with the stream of dispensed carbonated water takesplace directly downstream of the dispensing aperture of the cartridge,the intimate mixing being an autonomous process that effectively takesplace whilst the stream travels towards and into the drinking vessel.

FIGS. 1, 10 and 11 show the system 1 with the disposable cartridge 3 ata dispensing location in the dispensing apparatus 2.

The dispensing apparatus 2 comprises a base liquid feed assembly 28 thatis adapted to feed base liquid into the channel 14 of the disposablecartridge 3. The base liquid feed assembly 28 has a base liquid feedlance 30 disposed at the dispensing location. The lance 30 is embodiedto connect to the channel of the column of the disposable cartridge,e.g. whilst piercing through the top sealing film of the disposablecartridge, so that base liquid can be fed into the channel. FIG. 11shows the lance 30 connected to the channel 14 of the column 12 of thedisposable cartridge 3.

During dispensing, base liquid is fed through the lance 30 into thechannel 14 and emerges as a stream 53 from the dispensing aperture 15 atthe bottom of the cartridge body 9, where the exterior of the streammerges with the liquid ingredient 54 dispensed from the one or moredispensing passage outlet openings 24, see FIG. 12.

Besides the base liquid feed assembly, the beverage dispensing apparatus2 is provided with a holder 27 and an operable displacement device 29.

The holder 27 is configured for accommodating and retaining thedisposable cartridge 3 at the dispensing location in the device 2.

In the embodiment shown, the holder 27 is embodied as a sliding drawer,equipped to accommodate and retain the cartridge 3 in a substantiallyhorizontal position with the bottom 9 of the cartridge downwards and thechannel 14 in the column 12 of the cartridge vertical. The holder 27 hasan aperture below the bottom of the cartridge, see FIG. 1, in such a waythat during dispensing of the liquid product the product remains clearof the holder. This avoids undue disturbance of the flow, e.g. avoidingreduction of the carbon dioxide content of the liquid product and/orsoiling of the apparatus and/or cross contamination between successiveservings.

The operable displacement device 29 is adapted to produce a movement ofthe holder 27 for the cartridge 3 and the base liquid feed lance 30relative to each other, so that when the displacement device is operatedthe lance connects to the column 12, moves the column down relative tothe top 10 of the cartridge body 5, and thereby causes the bottomsealing film 7 to rupture and/or tear away from dispensing aperture 15,thereby allowing dispensing of the liquid ingredient 4 from thedispensing passage outlet openings 24, see FIGS. 11 and 12.

In the embodiment shown, the dispensing apparatus has an operabledisplacement device 29 comprising an excenter mechanism 36 and anelectric motor adapted to produce a movement of the lance 120 relativeto the cartridge 1 that is held in the holder 110.

FIG. 18 schematically shows the beverage dispensing apparatus,comprising the part shown in FIGS. 1, 10 and 11, and cartridge ofFIG. 1. The apparatus 2 has a housing 205 and the drawer 27 foraccommodating and retaining the cartridge 3 at a dispensing location inthe apparatus. The dispensing location is directly above the support 215for a drinking glass 216.

The apparatus 2 comprises the air pump 34 and the pressurization domemember 35 having along its periphery the outer gas seal adapted tosealingly engage the disposable cartridge 3 around a location where thetop sealing film is pierced to allow entry of pressurized air from theair pump into the reservoir.

The base liquid feed lance 30 is integrated with the dome member 35 as areciprocating unit, here vertically, driven by operable displacementdevice 29, here with the excenter mechanism and an electric motor, whichis adapted to produce a movement of the dome member 35 and lance 30relative to the cartridge 3 that is held in the holder 27.

The apparatus 2 has a water inlet 39 to be connected to a water main.Reference numeral 265 denotes a water chiller device to chill the water,e.g. to a temperature between 2 and 10 Celsius.

The outlet of the water chiller device 39 is connected, via valveassembly 266, on the one hand directly to the lance 30 and on the otherhand to a carbonator 51, e.g. an inline or tankless carbonator. A CO2bottle 275 is also connected to the carbonator 51 so that the CO2 can bedissolved in the chilled water and then fed to the lance 30.

Reference numeral 280 denotes a flow through water heater adapted toprovide hot water to the lance 30. The flow thereof is controlled by hotwater valve 281.

Reference numeral 300 denotes a temperature sensor that is adapted tosense the temperature of the cartridge 3, e.g. when located at thedispensing location in the apparatus.

The sensor 330 is connected to a gas pressure control device 310 whichcontrols the operation of the air pump 34, e.g. so as to allow for atemperature dependent control of the air pressure to which the liquidingredient in the reservoir of the cartridge is subjected.

In embodiments the air pump 34 is adapted to create an air pressure ofbetween 0.5 and 2.5 bars above the atmospheric pressure. In embodimentsthe air pump 34 will create a predetermined air pressure dependent on areadable indication on the cartridge, e.g. by reading a barcode,preferably said pressure being constant over a dispensing cycle.

In embodiments a dispensing cycle for a glass of beverage, e.g. of about250 ml, will take between 15 and 30 seconds.

In embodiment the volume ratio between the liquid ingredient and thebase liquid may be between 1:4 and 1:10. For example a 50 ml volume ofliquid ingredient in the reservoir is combined with 200-250 ml ofcarbonated water to fill a drinking glass.

In an embodiment the dispensing flow rate of the liquid ingredient fromthe reservoir is substantially uniform over the dispensing cycle of thebase liquid, e.g. about 2-3 ml per second.

At a distance below the dispensing location of the holder the apparatus2 has a standing place 215 for a mug or other receptacle, e.g. adrinking glass 216 for receiving the combined streams of base liquid andliquid ingredient.

FIG. 10 shows a cross sectional side view of the system of FIG. 1, priorto the start of a dispensing cycle, with the column 12 of the cartridgein its initial position and top sealing film 6 and bottom sealing film 7intact.

FIG. 11 shows a cross sectional side view of the system of FIG. 1,during a dispensing cycle, with the the feed lance 30 connected to thecolumn 12, with the column 12 of the cartridge in its lower dispensingposition, with top sealing film 6 pierced and with bottom sealing film 7film torn away from the dispensing aperture 15 and the dispensingpassage outlet openings 24, thereby allowing the liquid ingredient to bedispensed via the dispensing passages.

In this design the carbonated water simply passes through the channel 14of the column 12, and emerges from the dispensing aperture of the column12 as a stream of carbonated water. In the embodiment shown, the channel12 forms a rectilinear extension of a duct 31 in the feed lance 30 ofsimilar cross-section. While passing the channel 14 the flow of thecarbonated water is not hindered or disturbed by for exampleprotuberances projecting into the channel, curves or corners in thetrajectory of the channel, or colliding flows of base liquid or liquidingredient. Also, in the embodiment shown, the flow of base liquid isdispensed from the dispensing aperture straight down into a drinkingvessel for the consumer without any contact with a portion of thecartridge or of the apparatus.

By avoiding disturbances of the carbonated water flow the effect isachieved that the carbon dioxide gas dissolved in the carbonated wateris retained therein as much as possible. This is beneficial for thequality of the beverage and also allows for efficient use of carbondioxide gas, e.g. of importance when the carbon dioxide gas is stored ina gas bottle that needs to be replaced by a consumer when empty.

In an embodiment, the system is adapted to open, e.g. pierce, break,rupture and/or tear away at least part of the top sealing film providedon the disposable cartridge.

In the embodiment of the cartridge shown, for example in FIG. 2, the topsealing film covers the opening at the top end of the column and sealsthe inlet of the channel in the column. In such an embodiment, the baseliquid feed lance is preferably embodied to pierce through the topsealing film of the cartridge to connect to the channel of the column ofthe disposable cartridge such that base liquid can be fed into thechannel. In an alternative embodiment, the top sealing film is providedwith a premade hole that is aligned with the inlet of the channel.

The top sealing film 6 hermetically seals the aperture 11 thatcommunicates with the reservoir 8 holding the single serve portion ofliquid ingredient 4. In an embodiment, the system is configured topierce and/or rupture the top sealing film to provide access to thereservoir holding the liquid ingredient. In the particular embodimentshown, the disposable cartridge 3 is provided with multiple top sealingfilm piercing members 32, having a cutting top 33, which piercingmembers are arranged in the reservoir 8 underneath the top sealing film7 with their respective cutting tops 33 positioned near the top seal 7,see FIG. 8.

When the top sealing film 7 is moved downwards the piercing members 32engage the top sealing film and locally rupture the top sealing filmthereby providing one or more holes in the top sealing film. In anembodiment, the top end of the column rests against the top sealing filmwhen the column is in the higher initial position. In the embodimentshown, the top end 13 of the column 12 is connected to the top sealingfilm 6, e.g. heat-sealed, so as to achieve a sealed connectionseparating the channel inlet 26 from the reservoir 8. The top sealingfilm 6 is moved downward due to the column 12 of the cartridge body 5being moved downwards from its initial position to its lower dispensingposition and by the feed lance pressing down on the top sealing film.

The one or more holes provided by the piercing members 32 in the topseal 6 of the cartridge 3, see FIG. 9, allow for introduction of gasinto the reservoir 8, and thus prevent a vacuum from occurring in thereservoir due to the outflow of the liquid ingredient 4. Such a vacuummay adversely affect the flow of the liquid ingredient. In theembodiment shown, the openings in the top seal are used to introducepressurized gas, to assist and optionally actively control the flow ofliquid ingredient.

In addition to, or as an alternative, in an embodiment the top sealingfilm is provided with one or more premade score lines, e.g. by lasermachining the top sealing film, and said one or more premade score linesare adapted to rupture and thereby open the top sealing film due to theseal being stretched, for example by the feed lance moving the columndownwards from its initial position to its lower dispensing position.

FIG. 9 shows the top sealing film 6 in a lowered position, due to thecolumn 12 being moved into its lowered position. The cutting tops 33 ofthe piercing members 32 having pierced the top sealing film 6. In thepreferred embodiment, the piercing members 35 are provided in the formof rib elements extending upwards from the bottom of the reservoir 8 andare at one side connected to the circumferential wall 36 of thecartridge 3. In the embodiment shown, the piercing members 32 areintegral with the cartridge body 5. In an alternative embodiment, thepiercing members are part of a separate component, which component isplaced in the reservoir prior to sealing it.

In the embodiment shown, the piercing members 32 are provided with aU-shaped cutting top 33, when seen in top view. Due to the U-shape, thepiercing members 32 enclose a channel, which channel is open along oneside, that provides access to the reservoir 8 when the top sealing film6 has been pierced. This configuration of the piercing members reducesthe chance of parts of the pierced top sealing film blocking theopenings pierced in the top sealing film.

In the embodiment shown, the piercing members 32 for piercing the topsealing film 6 sealing of the reservoir 8 are provided in the reservoir.In an alternative embodiment, in an addition to or as an alternative tothe piercing members in the reservoir of the cartridge, the feed lanceor other parts of the dispensing apparatus are provided with piercingmembers configured to open, e.g. pierce, break, rupture and/or tear awayat least part of the top sealing film sealing the reservoir of thedisposable cartridge. In an embodiment the apparatus comprises apuncture member adapted to puncture the top sealing film in an areabetween the central column and the circumferential wall, and theapparatus is adapted to feed pressurized gas, e.g., air, into saidreservoir via said puncture member.

In an embodiment the dispensing apparatus comprises a base liquid supplyin the form of a connection to a water mains or other water supply, awater chiller and a holding tank for chilled water, a carbonator deviceconnected to a source of carbon dioxide gas, e.g. to a bottle of carbondioxide gas, e.g. an inline carbonator adapted to dissolve carbondioxide gas into a stream of chilled water that flows through a waterduct from said chilled water holding tank to said base liquid feed lanceas a single serving is prepared. In the embodiment shown, a firstflexible hose 55 connects the base liquid supply 39 to the liquid feedlance 30. In an embodiment the apparatus comprises a cooling deviceadapted to cool said base liquid, e.g. to a temperature between 5 and15° C. In an embodiment the apparatus is integrated in a domesticrefrigerator, e.g. in a door thereof.

In an embodiment the apparatus comprises a carbonator. In an embodimentthe liquid feed assembly is equipped to feed water as the base liquid,e.g. carbonated water, e.g. selectively carbonated and non-carbonatedwater, e.g. chilled, non-chilled, and/or hot non-carbonated water.

In the embodiment shown, the dispensing apparatus is provided with awater inlet 39 to be connected to a water mains. A carbonator 51 isprovided in the channel connecting the water inlet 39 with the feedlance 30. Both components are schematically depicted in the Figs.

In the embodiment shown, the dispensing apparatus 2 comprises apressurized gas source, embodied as an air pump 34, schematicallydepicted in the Figs., to pressurize the liquid ingredient 4 in thereservoir 8 of the disposable cartridge 3 to thereby assist thedispensing thereof from the reservoir via the one or more dispensingpassages 22. This is for example advantageous if the liquid ingredientis rather viscous and also allows for control of said dispensing, e.g.in view of the ratio between the liquid ingredient and the base liquid,e.g. during a dispensing cycle of a single beverage. The gas pressurecontrol may also be used to compensate, if needed, for any temperaturedependent viscosity effect of the liquid ingredient, e.g. increasing gaspressure when the liquid ingredient is cold. In an embodiment theapparatus may comprise a temperature sensor adapted to sense thetemperature of the liquid ingredient and/or of the cartridge at thestart of the dispensing cycle, e.g. when placed in the holder of theapparatus or when arriving at or moving to the dispensing location. Inan embodiment, the cartridge is provided with an identificationrepresenting the liquid ingredient therein, e.g. a barcode or otherwise,allowing a dispensing apparatus to read said identification in order toprovide via the feed lance the appropriate base liquid. One can alsoenvisage a user inputting said temperature, e.g. “cartridge taken fromrefrigerator” and “ambient temperature cartridge”. One can also envisagethe top sealing film have a temperature responsive coloring area, thatchanges color due to temperature change and thereby provides anindication of the actual temperature of the liquid ingredient. Theapparatus may then have a sensor reading the temperature or an indicatorthereof on the cartridge, or the user may be guided to provide thecorrect input for the apparatus.

In the embodiment shown, the dispensing apparatus is furthermoreprovided with a pressurization dome member 35 having annular gas seal 38that is adapted to sealingly engage the top of the cartridge 3, e.g. thetop sealing film 6 at an upper rim of a circumferential wall 36 of thedisposable cartridge.

In the embodiment shown, the pressurized gas source 34 is connected tothe pressurization dome member 35 via a second flexible hose 56. Thepressurized gas source 34 is connected to the pressurization dome member35 so as to allow feeding of pressurized gas beneath the dome memberwhen the gas seal 38 thereof sealingly engages the top of the disposablecartridge 3 and the top sealing film 6 has been opened, to allow entryof pressurized gas into the reservoir 8 to pressurize said liquidingredient 4 therein to thereby assist the dispensing thereof from thereservoir 8 via the one or more dispensing passages 22.

In the embodiment shown the base liquid feed lance 30 is integrated withthe pressurization dome member 35 having said annular gas seal 38 so asto move in unison. In this design, the pressure dome member 35 isprovided with a second annular gas seal 57 for engaging the top sealingfilm 6 at or near the top end of the column 12 of the disposablecartridge 3, to prevent leakage of pressurized gas into the channel ofthe cartridge. In the embodiment shown, this second annular gas seal 38is provided on the feed lance such that it engages the top end 13 of thecolumn 12. In an alternative embodiment, the second annular gas seal isprovided on the feed lance such that it engages the inside of thechannel of the column of the cartridge when the feed lance is coupledwith said column.

In the embodiment shown, the dispensing apparatus 2 has an operabledisplacement device 29 comprising an excenter mechanism 37 and anelectric motor adapted to produce a movement of the dome member 35 andfeed lance 30 relative to the cartridge 3 that is held in the holder 27.

When the displacement device 29 is operated the feed lance 30 piercesthe top sealing film 6 and connects to the channel 14 of the column 12.Continued downward motion of the feed lance 30, here along with the domemember 35, causes the base liquid feed lance to move the column 12 fromits initial position into its lowered dispensing position, causes thepiercing members 32 to pierce the top seal 6 and causes the bottom seal7 to rupture and/or to tear away from the dispensing passage outletopenings 24, thereby opening the dispensing passage outlet openings.Furthermore, the downward motion of the dome member 35 causes theannular gas seal 38 to sealingly engage the top of the cartridge 3, e.g.the top sealing film 6 at the upper rim of the circumferential wall 36of the disposable cartridge.

Thus, in this design the combined downward movement of feed lance 30 anddome member 35 enables dispensing of base liquid from the dispensingaperture and liquid ingredient from the dispensing passage outlets ofthe cartridge, the latter assisted by pressurization of the reservoirusing a pressurized gas, and thereby allowing the dispensing of beverageconcentrate or the like from the cartridge 1 to prepare the liquidproduct, e.g. a liquid food product, e.g. a beverage, e.g. a carbonatedbeverage.

The present invention also relates to a method for preparation of aliquid product, e.g. a liquid food product, e.g. a beverage, e.g. acarbonated beverage, wherein use is made of a cartridge 3 and anapparatus 2 according to the invention. The method comprises:

-   -   sealingly engaging the annular gas seal 38 of the pressurization        dome member 35 with the disposable cartridge 3 around a location        where the top sealing film 6 is or will be opened to allow entry        of pressurized gas into the reservoir, e.g. onto an upper end of        a circumferential wall of the disposable cartridge,    -   causing the top sealing film 6 to open,    -   moving the column 12 of the cartridge 3 into its dispensing        position, and thereby rupturing and/or to tearing away the        bottom sealing film 7 from the dispensing passage outlet        openings 24, thereby opening the dispensing passage outlet        openings,    -   feeding base liquid through the channel 14 of the column 12 of        the cartridge 3, thus dispensing a stream of base liquid 53 form        the dispensing aperture 15 at the bottom of the cartridge,    -   feeding pressurized gas beneath said dome member 35 thereby        pressurizing the liquid ingredient 4 in the reservoir 8 of the        disposable cartridge 3 by said gas thereby assisting the        dispensing thereof from the reservoir via the one or more        dispensing passages 22,    -   merge the liquid ingredient with the base liquid stream emerging        from the dispensing aperture.

In the embodiment shown, the user starts by sliding open the drawer 27and placing the cartridge 3 in a corresponding cavity in the drawer. Theuser closes the drawer 27 by sliding it with the cartridge 1 into thehousing so that the cartridge is moved to the dispensing location of theapparatus. This situation is depicted in FIG. 10.

The displacement device 29 is now operated so that the basic liquid feedlance 30 pierces the top sealing film 6 and connects to the channel 14of the column 12. Continued downward motion of the feed lance 30, herealong with the pressurization dome member 35, causes the base liquidfeed lance to move the column 12 to the dispensing position thereof,thus pressing the column downwards from its initial position to thelower dispensing position and thereby allowing the dispensing ofbeverage concentrate or the like from the cartridge 3. This situation isdepicted in FIG. 11.

As is preferred, the disposable cartridge 3 is provided with one or morepiercing members 32, here two, that are arranged underneath the topsealing film 6, so that pressing the top sealing film downwards, here bythe base liquid feed lance 30, causes the piercing members 32 to engagethe top sealing film 6 and to locally rupture the top sealing film,thereby providing holes in the sealing film that allow for introductionof pressurized gas into the reservoir 8 in order to pressurize theliquid ingredient 4 therein so as to assist dispensing thereof via thedispensing passages 22 when the column 12 is in the dispensing position.In this example the piercing members 32 are embodied as integrallymolded spike formations, see FIGS. 8 and 9. The cartridge is shown inisolation, i.e. without the dispensing apparatus, with its column in thedispensing position, its top sealing film pierced and its bottom sealingfilm torn away in FIGS. 6, 7, 9 and 12.

Now the supply of carbonated water as well as of pressurized gas, e.g.air, is started, possibly with some timed delay of the one relative tothe other. The liquid ingredient 4 is now assisted in its travel throughthe dispensing passages 22 and the flow of dispensed liquid ingredient54 blends with the stream of water 53 emerging from the dispensingaperture 15 of the channel 14. This merging of liquid ingredient andbase liquid is depicted in FIG. 12.

The one or more outlet openings 24 of the one or more dispensingpassages 22 are arranged to dispense the flow liquid ingredient 54basically as an annular shroud around the stream of base liquid 53. Thestream base liquid 53 and the flow liquid ingredient 54 adjoin oneanother rather immediately after they emerge from the cartridge 3 and inthe further duration of travel they intermix, possibly with a finalmixing occurring as the mixture swirls into the glass or other beveragedrinking container. It is noted that said mixing is in particular seenwhen carbonated water is used as base liquid and then this manner ofcombining the liquid ingredient with the carbonated water is greatlybeneficial for keeping the carbon dioxide in the base liquid. Incontrast, an effective jetting of one or more streams of liquidingredient into the stream of carbonated water is observed to agitatethe carbonated water in undue manner and thereby cause much of thecarbon dioxide to escape so that the final beverage contains limitedcarbon dioxide.

Once the single serving is prepared the flow of water or other baseliquid is stopped. If desired some gas flow may be continued to fullyempty the cartridge and/or to assure that the final drops of liquidingredient, e.g. beverage concentrate, are discharged. This avoids lossof ingredient and soiling of the apparatus.

At the end of the dispensing cycle, the dome member 35 and lance 30 havebeen moved to their initial position, clear from the cartridge 3,allowing the removal of the cartridge 1, here by opening the drawer 27and taking out the cartridge.

In the preferred embodiment of a system according to the inventionshown, the cartridge, when placed in the holder, is suspended from anupper flange as the holder forms a corresponding support surface forsaid upper flange.

In FIGS. 4 and 8, it is shown that the cartridge body 5 has acircumferential wall 36 having an upper rim bounding the opening thatprovides access to the reservoir. The top sealing film 6 is fixed tosaid upper rim, e.g. embodied as an outwardly projecting flange 44, e.g.the radially projecting flange is furthermore embodied to support thecartridge on a bearing surface of a dispensing apparatus, in theembodiment shown the drawer 27. As is preferred, in the embodimentshown, the outer gas seal 38 of the dome member 35 engages also on thetop sealing 6 film on the upper rim 44.

Furthermore, the holder 27 for the cartridge 3 is equipped toaccommodate and retain the cartridge in a substantially horizontalposition with the bottom 9 of the cartridge downwards, the holder havingan aperture below the bottom of the cartridge in such a way that duringdispensing of the liquid product said product remains clear of theholder.

It is noted that the premade hole 25 in the bottom sealing film 8,aligned with the dispensing aperture 15, e.g. having a diameter the sameor similar to said dispensing aperture, avoids the risk of said bottomsealing film, or portion thereof, interfering with the stream of baseliquid emerging from the dispensing aperture when the column has beenmoved into its dispensing position. As explained, in view of retentionof carbon dioxide and/or other gas in the carbonated water, it isdesirable to not hinder the stream as any hindrance causes loss of gasfrom the stream.

Also, in this design, there is no need for the user to remove the bottomsealing film. The cartridge causes the effective opening of the bottomsealing film due to the column being moved to its lower dispensingposition.

In the embodiment shown, the portion of the column 12 that projectsupwards from the bottom of the cartridge body 9 to the top end 13 of thecolumn 12 is an upper portion 40 of the column 12, and the column 12further has a lower foot portion 41, which foot portion projectsdownwards from the bottom of the cartridge body to the bottom end of thecolumn 16, such that the bottom surface 19 of the wall 17 of the column12 and the dispensing aperture 15 at the bottom end of the column 12 arespaced from the bottom 9 of the cartridge body 5. This feature allowsfor an effective opening of the bottom sealing film 7 as the footportion 41 of the column 12 protrudes into and through the premade hole25 in the bottom sealing film as the column 12 is moved into its lowerdispensing position. Also this design allows to avoid any desire of theliquid ingredient to adhere to the bottom of the cartridge and stickthereon and/or flow away from the dispensing aperture where theingredient merges with the stream of base liquid.

In an alternative embodiment, the lower end of the column may be levelwith the bottom of the cartridge. In such an embodiment the one or moredispensing passages may be at least partially arranged in the bottom ofthe cartridge body with the one or more dispensing passage outletopenings arranged in the bottom of the cartridge body, adjacent to thedispensing aperture of the column, so that liquid ingredient emergingfrom said one or more dispensing passage outlet openings contacts theexterior of the stream of base liquid emerging from the dispensingaperture at the bottom end of the column.

In the embodiment shown the one or more dispensing passages 22 arearranged in the wall 17 of the column 12, and the dispensing passageoutlet openings 24 are provided in the bottom surface 19 of the wall 17of the column 12. This design effectively creates ducts within thethickness of the relevant portion of the column, e.g. within theabovementioned foot portion 41 which is preferred.

In the embodiment shown, the dispensing passages 22 extend parallel tothe rectilinear central channel 14 of the column 12. The liquidingredient emerging from the one or more dispensing passage outletopenings 24 provided in the bottom surface 19 of the wall 17 of thecolumn 12 has a direction generally parallel to the stream of baseliquid 53, e.g. carbonated water, emerging from the dispensing aperture12, e.g. so as to avoid any undue disturbance of the carbonated waterstream.

In the embodiment shown, which is aimed to create a well-directed streamof base liquid 53 that merges and then mixes autonomously with theliquid ingredient 54, the bottom surface 19 of the wall 17 of the column12 extends perpendicular to a central axis of the channel 14.

Furthermore, the one or more outlet openings 24 of the dispensingpassages 24 are arranged to dispense the liquid ingredient as an annularshroud around the exterior of the stream of base liquid.

In the embodiment shown, the dispensing passages 22 comprisessemi-circular cross-section outlet passages 24, seen in verticaldirection, e.g. each associated with one inlet opening. Furthermore, thedispensing passage inlet openings 23 have a cross-section that is afraction of the cross-section of the dispensing passage outlet openings24.

FIG. 13 shows part of an alternative embodiment of a cartridge accordingto the invention. In this design the column 12 is provided with a footportion 41 and the one or more dispensing passages 22 are arranged inthe bottom 9 of the cartridge body 5, adjacent to the foot portion ofthe column, preferably in a circular arrangement around the foot portionof the column, so that liquid ingredient emerging from the one or moredispensing passage outlet openings 24 contacts an outside surface of thewall 17 of the foot portion 41 of the column 12, and flows over theoutside surface of the wall of the column to merge with a base liquidstream emerging from the dispensing aperture 15 at the bottom end 16 ofthe column. Therefore, instead of flowing through passages within thethickness of the wall, the liquid ingredient flows along an outsidesurface until it reaches the lower end thereof and then merges with thebase liquid stream emerging from the dispensing aperture 15.

FIG. 14 shows part of an alternative embodiment of a cartridge accordingto the invention wherein the one or more dispensing passage outletopenings 23 are arranged in an outside surface of the wall 17 of a footportion 41 of the column 12, between the bottom 9 of the cartridge body5 and the bottom end 16 of the column 12. Also in this embodiment, theliquid ingredient emerging from said one or more dispensing passageoutlet openings and flows over the outside surface of the wall of thecolumn to merge with a base liquid stream emerging from the dispensingaperture 15 at the bottom end of the column 12. In FIG. 14 also part ofthe bottom sealing film 7 is shown. In this design, the bottom sealingfilm 7 is secured to the outside surface of the foot portion of thecolumn, thus sealing the dispensing passage outlet openings when thecolumn is in its initial position, as depicted in the figure.

FIG. 15 shows yet another embodiment of a cartridge according to theinvention, the foot portion 41 of the column 12 has a first portion 42adjacent the bottom 9 of the cartridge body 5 with a first diameter andan adjoining second portion 43 with a second diameter smaller than saidfirst diameter, which first and second foot portion are separated by ashoulder 44. Thus, the foot portion 41 of the column 12 is provided witha setback in the form of the second portion having a smaller diameter.In this design, the one or more dispensing passages 22 are arranged inthe wall 17 of the column 12, and the dispensing passage outlet openings24 are provided in the shoulder 44, so that liquid ingredient emergingfrom said one or more dispensing passage outlet openings flows over theoutside surface of the wall of the second foot portion 43 to merge witha base liquid stream emerging from the dispensing aperture 15 at thebottom end of the column 12.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 13-15 can be provided with a bottomsealing film and/or with an internal valve, located inside the reservoirof the cartridge. The bottom sealing film can for example be secured tothe shoulder and/or the outside surface of the foot portion of thecolumn, for example as shown in FIG. 14.

It is noted that in a preferred embodiment according to the invention,the dispensing passages extend between inlet openings located in thereservoir of the cartridge and outlet openings located at the outside ofthe cartridge. The dispensing passage outlet openings, from which theliquid ingredient emerges, are located level with, or higher than, thedispensing aperture from which the stream of base liquid emerges. Thus,the flow of liquid ingredient is dispensed at or above the dispensingaperture.

Furthermore, the flow of liquid ingredient is preferably guided parallelto the stream of base liquid, by the dispensing passage channels and/orby an outside surface of the wall of the column that delimits thechannel, prior to being dispensed. The flow of liquid ingredient and thestream of base liquid are prior to being dispensed from the cartridgepreferably separated only by the wall of the column that delimits thechannel, such that the liquid ingredient is dispensed in a flow parallelto the flow of the base liquid emerging from the dispensing aperture.Furthermore, the flow of liquid ingredient is thus provided close enoughto the stream of base liquid that it is “picked up” by the stream ofbase liquid.

Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of a cartridge according to theinvention, the stream of base liquid and the flow(s) of liquidingredient are dispensed as parallel flows, separated only by a wallportion of the cartridge. After being dispensed, the parallel flowsmerge, the liquid ingredient coating the exterior of the stream of baseliquid. Actual mixing of the liquid ingredient with the base liquid onlytakes place after the base liquid and the liquid ingredient have beendispensed.

In a further preferred embodiment, the lower portion of the column isprovided with a series of outlet openings of the one or more dispensingpassages, which outlet openings are arranged in a circular arrangementaround the outlet or aperture from which the base liquid, e.g.carbonated water emerges. In a preferred embodiment the one or moreoutlet openings are arranged to dispense the liquid ingredient basicallyas an annular shroud around the stream of base liquid. As set out above,the stream of base liquid and flow of liquid ingredient adjoin oneanother rather immediately after they are dispensed from the cartridgeand in the further duration of travel they intermix, possibly with afinal mixing occurring as the mixture swirls into the glass or otherbeverage drinking container. It is noted that said mixing is inparticular seen when carbonated water is used as base liquid and thenthis manner of combining the liquid ingredient with the carbonated wateris greatly beneficial for keeping the carbon dioxide in the base liquid.In contrast, an effective jetting of one or more streams of liquidingredient into the stream of carbonated water is observed to agitatethe carbonated water in undue manner and thereby cause much of thecarbon dioxide to escape so that the final beverage contains limitedcarbon dioxide.

In an embodiment wherein the ingredient flows along the outside surfaceof the foot portion of the column, one or more discharge grooves areprovided in the outside surface of the foot portion of the column forguiding the liquid ingredient that emerged from the one or moredischarge outlet openings. In an embodiment, each discharge grooveextends from one or more dispensing passage outlet openings towards thebottom end of the column, preferably up to the end face of the footportion of the column. The one or more grooves may serve to distributethe flow of liquid ingredient, e.g. to form a shroud of the liquidingredient around the stream of base liquid emerging from the dispensingaperture. In an embodiment, the grooves may be provided in a helicalpattern on the outside surface of the foot portion. The one or moregrooves may also be structured to slowdown the liquid ingredient as itemerges from the one or more outlet openings and/or to direct said flowto a flow that is substantially parallel, e.g. vertical, to the emergingstream of base liquid.

In a preferred embodiment, for example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the oneor more dispensing passage outlet openings are arranged in a circulararrangement around the dispensing aperture and the bottom sealing filmhermetically seals the at least one or more dispensing passage outletopenings, and the bottom sealing film is adapted to rupture and/or totear away from the dispensing passage outlet openings due to the columnbeing moved downwards to its lower dispensing position, thereby openingthe dispensing passage outlet openings. This embodiment allows for thebottom sealing film to directly seal the one or more outlet openings,thereby obviating the need for any further valve or the like to closethe dispensing passages.

In the embodiment shown, the bottom of the cartridge has an annularflexible portion 21 around the column 12 to allow movement of the columnin the vertical direction. The cartridge body further has a non-flexingportion 50 surrounding the flexing portion 51, with the bottom sealingfilm being 7 secured to, e.g. by heat-seal, to the non-flexing portion.In combination with a suitable vertical stroke of the column, the bottomsealing film will rupture and and/or tear away from the outlets of thedispensing passages.

In an embodiment the bottom sealing film has an inner loop shapedsealing area, which is sealed to the bottom end of the column around thedispensing aperture, and an outer loop shaped sealing area, which issealed to the cartridge body remote from the one or more dispensingpassage outlet openings, e.g. to a non-flexible part of the bottom ofthe cartridge. It is then envisaged that the inner loop shaped area willrelease upon motion of the column to its lower dispensing position,whereas the outer loop shaped area remains fixed to the cartridge.Preferably a foot portion of the column is effectively pushed into andthrough the premade hole in the bottom sealing film, preferably withoutthe bottom sealing film being torn.

It is observed that the bottom sealing film, when hermetically sealingthe dispensing passage outlet openings, can be sealed to the columnaround the dispensing passage outlet openings, thus sealing saidopenings. In such an embodiment, the outer circumference of the sealingfilm, attached to the cartridge body away from the dispensing passageoutlet openings, does not need to perform a sealing function, and justneeds to be attached to the cartridge to enable the seal to be torn awayfrom the dispensing aperture and dispensing passage outlet openings whenthe column is moved into its dispensing position. Thus, the bottomsealing film can be sealed to the cartridge body at discrete points, anddoes not require an uninterrupted sealing along its outer circumference.

As is illustrated it is envisaged that the flexible bottom portion 21,in the downward dispensing portion of the column 12, forms a downwardfunnel so that residual liquid can reach the dispensing inlet openings23 that are, optimally, arranged in the column 12 near the bottom of thecartridge, and thus at the bottom of the funnel created by lowering thecolumn. If, as desired, the flexible bottom portion 21 flexes back to,or substantially into, its initial position the same arrangement avoidsor further hinders any residual leakage of liquid ingredient from thecartridge after a beverage or the like has been prepared and the feedlance 30 has been moved upwards.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cartridge body 5 has acircumferential wall 36 around the perimeter of the bottom 9 of thecartridge, and the channel 12 is concentric relative to an axis of thecircumferential wall of the cartridge. In other embodiments the columnis offset from the center of the cartridge, e.g. adjacent one side ofthe circumferential wall. It is noted that in such an embodiment, thecolumn may still be provided with an annular, even a circular, flexingportion around the foot of the column to enable movement of the column.

In an embodiment the combined area or cross-section of the one or moredispensing passage outlet openings is multiple times larger than thecombined area of the one or more dispensing passage inlet openings, e.g.at least 10 times larger. For example, the cartridge 3 shown in FIG. 8is provided with two dispensing passage inlet openings 23, see FIG. 8,and two corresponding dispensing passage outlet openings 24, see FIG. 7,which outlet openings 24 each have a cross section multiple times largerthan the cross section of the corresponding inlet openings 23.

An embodiment in which the combined area or cross-section of the one ormore dispensing passage outlet openings is multiple times larger thanthe combined area of the one or more dispensing passage inlet openingsis of particular advantage when the dispensing apparatus that is used inconjunction with the cartridge is adapted to exert an expulsion force onthe liquid ingredient in the reservoir, e.g. a gas pressure on theliquid ingredient in the reservoir. The relatively narrow inlet openingsthan act as a throttle for the liquid ingredient which allows to createa stable flow rate into the one or more dispensing passages on the basisof the expulsion force. The larger size of the outlet openings of thesame dispensing passage(s) then allows for a slowdown or retarding ofthe liquid ingredient before it finally emerges from the outlet opening.

In an embodiment the one or more dispensing passages are provided with aflow restriction, preferably a fixed or constant flow restriction formedas a portion of the dispensing passage, e.g. in the form of one or morenarrow inlet openings, for example the combined inlet openings or otherflow restriction portions having a cross section of at most 8 mm2. Forexample, the one or more inlet openings having a cross section ofbetween 1 and 2 mm2 each. It will be appreciated that depending on theviscosity of the liquid ingredient to be dispensed from the reservoirthe flow restriction can be tailored upon manufacturing of thecartridge.

In the embodiment shown, see FIGS. 4 and 5, the dispensing passage inletopenings 23 are oriented at an angle relative to an adjoining section ofthe dispensing passage 22 such that a jet of liquid ingredient passingthrough the inlet opening, e.g. embodied as a flow restriction of thepassages, collides against a wall portion of the passage therebyreducing, preferably annihilating, the speed of said jet.

In an embodiment the one or more dispensing passages are provided with anarrow inflow section and a wide outflow section, such that the narrowinflow section forms a restriction for a flow of liquid ingredient thatflows from the reservoir to the dispensing passage outlet openings. Insuch an embodiment, the flow restriction is formed as a portion of thedispensing passage and is thus located inside the dispensing passage,i.e. downstream of the dispensing passage inlet opening. The wideoutflow section, following the narrow inflow section, then allows for aslowdown of the liquid ingredient before it emerges from the dispensingpassage outlet opening(s).

In an embodiment the outflow section extends substantially parallel tothe channel in the column and the inflow section extends at an angle tothe outflow section, such that a jet of liquid ingredient passingthrough the inflow section, e.g. due to gas pressurization of the liquidingredient, collides against a wall portion of the outflow section ofthe dispensing passage, thereby reducing, preferably annihilating, thespeed of said jet.

In the embodiment shown in for example FIG. 2, the channel 14 in thecolumn 12 has an upper channel portion 45, extending from the inlet ofthe channel 14, with a first diameter and an adjoining lower channelportion 46, extending to the dispensing aperture 15 of the channel, saidlower channel portion and dispensing aperture having a second diameter,wherein the first diameter is greater than said second diameter. Thisstepped diameter of the channel 14 allows to introduce a front end ofthe feed lance 30 into the wider upper portion 45 with the duct withinthe feed lance having an inner diameter that substantially correspondsto the second diameter. In this manner the inner duct of the feed lance30 and the lower channel portion form an approximately constant diameterduct for the base liquid, e.g. carbonated water, flowing through thefeed lance and the adjoining portion of the channel in the cartridge.This avoids or at least reduces undue disturbance of the flow of baseliquid, which in the event of carbonated water would result in an extraloss of carbon dioxide gas from the water.

In an embodiment the dispensing aperture of the channel of the column,preferably also the adjoining second portion of the channel, has adiameter between 6 and 15 millimeter, e.g. about 10 millimeter.

In an embodiment the cartridge body comprises an injection moldedmonolithic plastic body part, the monolithic plastic body part at leastcomprising a circumferential wall, a bottom, and a portion of thecolumn, e.g. a foot portion of the column and possibly also a lower partof the upper portion of the column, e.g. the part defining theabove-mentioned second diameter, wherein, in an embodiment, theremainder of the column is embodied as a separately molded plastic partthat is fitted onto the lower part of the upper portion of the column.The latter embodiment may e.g. be advantageous in view of injectionmolding technology, as it allows for simplification of the mold for themonolithic plastic body part.

With reference to FIGS. 16-17 now another example of a disposablecartridge 3 will be discussed, which cartridge is provided with a valvemember 47 arranged within the reservoir 8 of the cartridge and outsideof the column 12, which valve member is stationary arranged within thecartridge so as to be movable, e.g. slideable, relative to the columnwhen the column is moved from its higher initial position to its lowerdispensing position. When the column is in the higher initial position,see FIG. 16, the valve member closes the one or more dispensingpassages, such that the reservoir is closed, and when the column is inthe lower dispensing position, see FIG. 17, the valve member has movedaway from the one or more dispensing passages, such that the reservoiris opened. This embodiment affords a closing of the reservoir right atthe dispensing passage inlet openings.

The valve member 47 can be manufactured as a separate component that isassembled into the cartridge 3. It is however more preferred to embodythe valve member 47 by means of co-injection molding of the valve memberafter the body 5 has been molded. As will be appreciated the valvemember 47 should not become unitary with the body of the cartridge insuch a manner that it would be solidly fused to the column and theflexible portion of the body so as to obstruct the illustrated way ofoperation of the valve member and cartridge.

It is proposed to co-inject the valve member 47 such that only a lightadherence, or even no adherence at all, is created between the plasticof the valve member and the plastic of the body 5 of the cartridge 3including the column 12. This can be realized by selectingnon-compatible plastics, e.g. the body can be made of amorphous plastic,for example of PP. The valve member can be molded from crystallineplastic, e.g. polycarbonate PC or ABS. These combinations allow toobtain a light adherence of the valve member 47 to the surfaces of thebody 5 that are in contact with the valve member.

It is illustrated that the valve member has an annular portion 48surrounding the column 12, which annular portion 48 has a sealing facethat extends over the dispensing passage inlet openings 24 and is insealing contact with a corresponding annular sealing face around thecolumn.

In order to maintain the stationary position of the valve member 47 whenthe column 12 is pressed down, the valve member 47 here has one or morespoke portions 49 that extend away from the annular portion 48 to besupported on a non-flexing portion 50 of the bottom and here, as ispreferred also extending to support against the circumferential wall 36of the body of the disposable cartridge 3. It is illustrated that thenon-flexing bottom portion 50 extends around the flexible portion 21 ofthe bottom.

As can be seen in FIG. 17, the valve member 47 does not follow adownward motion of the column 12, with the result that the valve memberno longer covers or closes the one or more dispensing passage inletopenings 23 of the one or more dispensing passages 22. Even when, ashere, the valve member 47 was molded to extend over the flexible bottomportion 21, the non-adherence or light adherence allows the flexingportion to deform and move away from the valve member.

FIG. 17 also illustrates the piercing or otherwise rupturing of the topsealing film 6 in order to allow entry of pressurized gas into thereservoir 8 for the purpose of pressurization of the liquid ingredient 4within the reservoir. This may be done by one or more piercing members,not shown in FIGS. 16-17, or the like formed integrally with the body ofthe cartridge underneath the film as discussed earlier. Furthermore, thepiercing by the lance 30 of the portion of the top sealing film 6covering the inlet of the channel 14 is shown at 52.

FIG. 17 very schematically illustrates how the, rather slow moving,streams of liquid ingredient 54 adjoins the outside of the centralstream of base liquid 53, here carbonated water, and in the furthercourse of travel into the drinking vessel gradually intermixes with thebase liquid. In case of carbonated water it is preferred that theemerging streams of liquid ingredient does not intersect the water flowbut rather flows along and then adjoins, preferably as an annularshroud, the water flow.

It is illustrated in FIG. 16, see also FIG. 12, that preferably thedispensing passage inlet openings 23 are oriented at an angle relativeto the dispensing passage such that a jet of liquid ingredient emergingfrom an opened inlet, e.g. due to pressurization of the liquidingredient as discussed herein, collides against a wall portion of thedispensing passage thereby reducing, preferably annihilating, the speedof said jet.

In a most desired manner, even with a jetting of liquid ingredient fromthe dispensing inlet openings 23, the liquid ingredient effectivelystreams down mainly under the influence of gravity with the stickinessof the liquid ingredient in combination with an appropriate narrow shapeof the passage maintain a slow speed of the emerging liquid ingredient.

Effectively it is desirable for the dispensing passage 22 to act as aflow resistor for the liquid ingredient, so that pressurization of theliquid ingredient as discussed herein using pressurized gas, can be usedto cause an even stream of liquid ingredient from the one or moredispensing passage outlet openings 24.

It will be appreciated that the design discussed with reference to forexample FIGS. 16 and 17 does not require the presence of a valve memberas the bottom sealing film keeps the dispensing passage outlet openingsclosed until the column is moved downwards. In an embodiment a valvemember may still be provided, in which case the bottom sealing filmmainly will serve to counter an ingress of matter into the dispensingpassages. The latter can of course also be countered by packaging thecartridge in an outer envelope, e.g. a sealed sachet containing one ormore cartridges which can also be done for any other cartridge discussedherein. However, preferably, the valve member arranged within thecartridge is combined with a bottom sealing film adapted to ruptureand/or to tear away from the dispensing passage outlet openings due tothe column being moved downwards to its lower dispensing position,thereby opening the dispensing passage outlet openings.

The cartridges described above or at least their plastic bodies mayalternatively be described as defining an annulus of U-shapedcross-section, with the filling aperture at the open end of the U beingclosed by the top sealing film.

Thus, the cartridge, for the production of a flavoured carbonatedbeverage from a stream of carbonated water, comprises a body shaped asan annulus of U-shaped cross-section defining a reservoir for receivinga liquid concentrate, being located between an outer circumferentialwall and an inner circumferential wall or central column, the centralcolumn defining a flow channel for passage of the stream of carbonatedwater without entry into the reservoir, the reservoir having a ringshaped aperture at an open end of the U being closed by a top sealingfilm, wherein a bottom of the body at a closed end of the U has aflexible portion such that the central column can be displaced downwardswith respect to the outer circumferential wall and wherein in use,downward displacement of the central column causes opening of adispensing passage whereby concentrate can exit the reservoir andcontact the stream after or during passage through the flow channel.

The cartridges described above and hereinafter or at least their bodiesmay alternatively be described as defining an annulus of U-shapedcross-section, with the filling aperture at the open end of the U beingclosed by the top sealing film. The cartridge bodies may mostconveniently be formed of plastic materials e.g. in a one piece ormulti-piece injection moulding operation or assembled from injectionmolded pieces, e.g. by laser welding a top portion piece of the columnonto an integrally monolithic moulded cartridge body piece withcircumferential wall, flexible bottom, and a further portion of thecolumn. It is however not excluded that parts of the cartridge may bemade by thermoforming or by blow moulding from a parison.

In this description, according to a preferred application of theinvention, the liquid ingredient is a beverage concentrate that is to becombined with a flow of carbonated water to fill a single servecontainer, e.g. a drinking glass, with a single serving of a carbonatedbeverage. The disposable cartridge is filled with a single serve portionof said liquid ingredient, preferably to a level so that a head space 52is present above the liquid ingredient.

In an embodiment of a dispensing apparatus according to the invention,the apparatus may be provided with a control device for the pressurizedgas source, e.g. adapted to provide adjustable timing of thepressurization of the liquid ingredient, e.g. relative to the process ofopening the dispensing passages, e.g. with a timed delay relative to theeffective opening. The control device, e.g. a computerized controldevice for the pressurized gas source may also be linked to a cartridgeidentification assembly that is adapted to identify the cartridge, e.g.with respect to the liquid ingredient therein.

In an embodiment, the dome and/or feed lance and/or holder of thedispensing apparatus are provided with a locking device configured forengaging the cartridge and/or for cooperating with a locking devicelocated on the cartridge to secure feed lance and/or pressurization domemember relative to the cartridge and/or secure the cartridge relative tothe holder during the dispensing cycle. For example a bayonet coupling,screw thread, ratchets, etc. or any other suitable temporarily securingdevice can be used.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10-11, the feed lance and thepressurization dome member are moved in unison. In an alternativeembodiment, the operable displacement device is adapted to move thepressurization dome and feed lance independent of each other, forexample to first engage the cartridge with the pressurization dome, andsubsequently pierce the top seal, or at least the center part thereof,moving the feed lance downwards relative to the pressurization dome.

In an embodiment the diameter of the channel in the column of thecartridge is between 5 and 20 mm, e.g. between 8 and 16 mm, e.g. about10 mm.

The bottom of the cartridge may e.g. have a diameter between 25 and 75mm, e.g. between 40 and 60 mm. The circumferential wall adjoining theperimeter of the bottom may e.g. have a height between 25 and 75 mm,e.g. between 40 and 60 mm.

In an embodiment the inlet openings, or other flow restriction portions,have a combined cross section of at most 8 mm2, for example the one ormore inlet openings each have a cross section between 0.3 and 1 mm, e.g.between 0.6 and 1.6 mm, e.g. about 1.4 mm.

In an embodiment the dispensing passage outlet openings are provided inthe bottom wall surface of the column, and the width between opposingvertical wall portions defining the dispensing passage outlet openingsis between 0.5 and 1.5 mm, e.g. between 0.7 and 1.2 mm, e.g. about 0.8mm.

In an embodiment, dispensing aperture and the dispensing passage outletopenings are 0.4 to 1.0 mm apart from each other so that the shroud flowof liquid ingredient will easily adjoin the flow of base liquid, inparticular when carbonated water is employed.

In the present context, reference to a dome member is not intended toimply any particular shape but merely the fact that the dome member iscapable of sustaining a gas pressure in a space beneath the dome member.The dome member and its respective seal or seals may be capable ofsealing the region beneath the dome member to a pressure of e.g. 4 bar.

It will be appreciated that the gas source should be able to supplypressurized gas, e.g. air by an air pump, at a flow rate thatcompensates for the discharge of liquid ingredient from the reservoir ofthe cartridge, e.g. at a rate of between 2-3 ml per second.

In embodiment the pressurized gas, e.g. air, is at a pressure of between0.5-2.5 bar above atmospheric pressure.

It will be appreciated that the practical flow rate and pressure rangecan be achieved with a fairly simple air pump.

For example the reservoir holds between 20 and 75 ml of liquidingredient, e.g. 50 ml.

For example a dispensing or serving cycle wherein a drinking glass orthe like is filled with beverage, e.g. of a volume of 200-300 ml, lastsbetween 15 and 30 seconds.

In an embodiment, after or at the end of completion of the discharge ofliquid ingredient from the reservoir, the gas may be used to purge theone or more dispensing passages, e.g. with a final boost of air, so asto avoid that residue remains in said passages.

In this context, flow of the base liquid, e.g. carbonated water, throughthe channel without impediment or construction may be defined asrequiring the channel to have a cross-sectional area from inlet tooutlet e.g. from top to bottom of the cartridge that is at no pointsmaller than 30 mm2, preferably always greater than 40 mm2 and evengreater than 50 mm2. In general, the channel will not be greater than200 mm2 in cross section.

In an embodiment the outlet or dispensing aperture of the channel has adiameter between 6 and 15 millimeter, e.g. about 8 or 10 millimeter. Fornon-round channels or apertures, the aperture may have a cross-sectionalarea greater than 30 mm2, preferably greater than 40 mm2 or even greaterthan 50 mm2. The aperture may also be less than 200 mm2 in crosssection.

In an alternative embodiment the operable displacement assemblycomprises a pneumatic motor, e.g. a pneumatic piston, to whichpressurized gas, e.g. air, is supplied by an air pump. For example theapparatus has a single air pump that is connected to the dome member topressurize the liquid ingredient, e.g. as discussed herein, and alsoconnected to said pneumatic motor, e.g. with the provision of a valveassembly to direct the pressurized air to the motor or to the domemember. The provision of a single air pump in conjunction with apneumatic motor for the operable displacement assembly allows to do awaywith an additional motor just for the operable displacement assembly.For example the dome member with the integrated liquid feed member isembodied as a pneumatic piston that is slidable in a correspondingcylinder.

Although reference here is made to an annular shroud and annulardispensing passage outlet, it will be understood that the base liquidstream need not be circular in cross section and could be oval,elongate, multi-lobal or any other shape that achieved the desiredjoining or merging with the liquid ingredient while avoiding unduerelease of carbon dioxide.

In an embodiment the one or more dispensing passages are embodied asflow resistor for the liquid ingredient passing there through. Thisarrangement allows to create a stable flow rate of liquid ingredientthrough the one or more dispensing passages, e.g. in view of the desireto dispense the total volume of liquid ingredient substantially in aneven manner over the entire dispensing cycle, e.g. so that at no pointin time plain base liquid is deposited in a drinking vessel which wouldbe detrimental to user appreciation and beverage quality.

The invention furthermore provides: a disposable cartridge filled with asingle serve portion of a liquid ingredient to be combined with a baseliquid for the preparation of a liquid product, e.g. a liquid foodproduct suitable for human consumption, e.g. a beverage concentrate tobe combined with water, e.g. carbonated water, for the preparation of abeverage, the disposable cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body with a bottom and a top, the body delimiting areservoir that is filled with a single serve portion of a liquidingredient,

wherein the cartridge body further comprises a column, with a channelwhich extends through the column from an inlet at said top end of thecolumn to a dispensing aperture at a bottom end of the column,

wherein a base liquid feed member is connectable to the inlet of thechannel in the column, allowing to feed the base liquid into the channeland to dispense a stream of base liquid via the dispensing aperture,

wherein the cartridge body is provided with one or more dispensingpassages adapted to dispense the liquid ingredient from the reservoir,

which one or more dispensing passages have one or more dispensingpassage inlet openings arranged so that liquid ingredient in thereservoir can enter the one or more dispensing passages, and

which one or more dispensing passages have one or more dispensingpassage outlet openings arranged so that liquid ingredient emergingtherefrom merges with said exterior of said base liquid stream that isdispensed from the dispensing aperture at the bottom end of the column,

wherein the column has a lower foot portion, which foot portion projectsdownwards from the bottom of the cartridge body to said bottom end ofthe column, such that the bottom surface the column and the dispensingaperture at the bottom end of the column are spaced from the bottom ofthe cartridge body,

wherein the cartridge has a bottom sealing film provided with a hole,which bottom sealing film is the bottom of the cartridge body such thatthe hole of the sealing film is aligned with the dispensing aperture ofthe column,

wherein the bottom sealing film around the hole is sealed to the bottomend of the foot portion and at is sealed at its periphery at one or morelocations to the bottom of the cartridge remote from the column, e.g.such that the bottom sealing film is provided with a conical shape, and

which bottom sealing film is adapted to rupture and/or to tear away fromthe dispensing aperture, thereby allowing dispensing from the passageoutlet openings, due to the cartridge being moved downwards into a lowerdispensing position relative to a holder for accommodating and retainingthe disposable cartridge at a dispensing location in a dispensingapparatus, which holder is provided with a stripping member, e.g. astripping ring, for engaging the conically shaped bottom sealing filmbetween its hole and its periphery.

Such a cartridge 103 is shown in FIG. 19. The cartridge 103 is depictedwhile it is lowered into the holder 127, just prior to the strippingmember 100 engaging the bottom sealing film 107. In the embodimentshown, the cartridge 103 further comprises a reservoir 108, sealed witha top sealing film 106, a column 112 with a central channel 114, anddispensing passages 122 with their dispensing passage outlet openings124 still sealed by the bottom sealing film 107.

In this design, the seal is ruptured and/or torn away from thedispensing aperture, by interaction between the bottom dispensing filmand the holder in which the cartridge is placed. By pushing thecartridge in a downward direction into the holder, a stripping memberprovided in the holder engages the bottom sealing between its hole andits periphery and pushes the bottom sealing film towards the bottom ofthe cartridge. Thus the hole of the bottom sealing film is pulled overthe foot portion of the column of the cartridge, and the foot portion ofthe column is effectively pushed into and through the premade hole inthe bottom sealing film, preferably without the bottom sealing filmbeing torn. In this design, the cartridge does not need a movablecolumn.

In an embodiment, the bottom sealing film is an O-shaped bottom sealingfilm. In such an embodiment, the bottom sealing film has a conical shapewhen mounted on the cartridge. It is furthermore envisaged that theprinciple of removing the bottom sealing film from the dispensingpassage outlet openings using a stripping member can be applied by doingaway with the foot portion of the column of the cartridge, such that thedispensing aperture is provided in or near the bottom of the cartridge,and providing the cartridge with a circumferential wall extending belowthe bottom of the cartridge, providing a sealing surface for theperiphery of the bottom sealing film at a distance from the bottom ofthe cartridge. In this design, when an O-shaped bottom sealing film isused, the bottom sealing film also has a conical shape. However, the topof the imaginary cone defined by the bottom sealing film now pointstowards the top of the cartridge instead of away from the cartridge, asis the case with the previous described embodiment, i.e. the column ofthe cartridge having a foot portion.

The stripping member is for example embodied as a stripping ring,preferably concentric with the dispensing aperture. In an alternativeembodiment, the stripping member comprise multiple discrete strippingbodies which engage the bottom sealing film between its hole and itsperiphery at regular intervals around the dispensing aperture.

In an embodiment, the stripping member is disc shaped, having an outerdiameter similar to the outer diameter of the outer cartridge body, andan central opening having a diameter large enough for receiving the footportion of the column with—part of—the stripped bottom sealing filmaround said column. In a further embodiment, the stripping member formsthe bottom of the holder.

It will be appreciated by the skilled person that a technical featurediscussed herein as required or as optional with respect to oneembodiment of the invention may be equally applicable to one or moreother embodiments described herein, with the feature performing itsdesignation function. Such combinations are all envisaged herein unlessa combination would result in a technical impossible solution and/or notmeet the desired functionality.

1-36. (canceled)
 37. A disposable cartridge filled with a single serveportion of a liquid ingredient to be combined with a base liquid for thepreparation of a liquid food product suitable for human consumption, thedisposable cartridge comprising: a cartridge body with a bottom and atop, and a top side and a bottom side, the body delimiting a reservoirthat is filled with a single serve portion of a liquid ingredient,wherein the top has an aperture in communication with said reservoir,which aperture is hermetically sealed by a top sealing film, wherein thecartridge further comprises a column having a portion that projectsupwards from the bottom to a top end of the column, wherein a channelextends through the cartridge from an inlet at said top end of thecolumn to a dispensing aperture located at the bottom side of thecartridge, wherein the top sealing film is sealed to said top end of thecolumn, wherein a base liquid feed lance is connectable to the inlet ofthe channel, allowing to feed the base liquid into the channel and todispense a stream of base liquid via the dispensing aperture, saidstream having an exterior, wherein the cartridge is provided with one ormore dispensing passages adapted to dispense the liquid ingredient fromthe reservoir, which one or more dispensing passages have one or moredispensing passage inlet openings arranged so that liquid ingredient inthe reservoir can enter the one or more dispensing passages, and whichone or more dispensing passages have one or more dispensing passageoutlet openings arranged so that liquid ingredient emerging therefrommerges outside the channel and external to the cartridge with saidexterior of said base liquid stream that is dispensed from thedispensing aperture of the channel, after said base liquid stream exitsthe dispensing aperture, and wherein the cartridge has a bottom sealingfilm initially closing the dispensing passage.
 38. A disposablecartridge according to claim 37, wherein the top sealing film ispierceable so as to allow for introduction of a pressurized gas into thereservoir in order to pressurize the liquid ingredient therein so as toassist dispensing thereof via the one or more dispensing passages.
 39. Adisposable cartridge according to claim 38, wherein the cartridge bodycomprises one or more top sealing film piercing members which arearranged in the reservoir underneath the top sealing film, which sealpiercing members have a cutting top positioned near the top seal for,when the top sealing film is moved downwards engaging the top sealingfilm and locally rupture the top sealing film thereby providing one ormore holes that allow for introduction of pressurized gas into thereservoir.
 40. A disposable cartridge according to claim 39, wherein apiercing member has a bottom end integral with the bottom of thecartridge and a body extending from the bottom upwards through thereservoir to the cutting top located near the top seal, and optionallyhas a side integral with the circumferential wall of the reservoir. 41.A disposable cartridge according to claim 37, wherein a combined area ofthe one or more dispensing passage outlet openings is multiple timeslarger than a combined area of the one or more dispensing passage inletopenings.
 42. A disposable cartridge according to claim 37, wherein theone or more dispensing passage inlet opening is oriented at an anglerelative to an adjoining section of the respective dispensing passagesuch that a jet of liquid ingredient passing through the inlet openingcollides against a wall portion of the passage thereby reducing thespeed of said jet.
 43. A disposable cartridge according to claim 37,wherein the one or more dispensing passages are provided with a narrowinflow section compared to a wider outflow section, such that the narrowinflow section forms a restriction for a flow of liquid ingredient thatflows from the reservoir to the one or more dispensing passage outletopenings.
 44. A disposable cartridge according to claim 43, wherein theoutflow section extends substantially parallel to the channel in thecolumn and the inlet section extends at an angle to the outflow section,such that a jet of liquid ingredient passing through the inlet opening,collides against a wall portion of the outflow section, thereby reducingthe speed of said jet.
 45. A disposable cartridge according to claim 37,wherein the dispensing passage comprises a throttle region having arelatively small flow cross-section compared to a flow cross-section ofthe dispensing passage outlet opening, and wherein the dispensingpassage outlet opening has a relatively large flow cross-sectioncompared to the flow cross section of the throttle region, and whereinthe throttle region is between the dispensing passage outlet opening andthe reservoir.
 46. A disposable cartridge according to claim 37, whereinthe cartridge body has a circumferential wall having an upper rimbounding the aperture in communication with said reservoir, wherein thetop sealing film is fixed to said upper rim.
 47. A disposable cartridgeaccording to claim 37, wherein the cartridge body has a circumferentialwall around the perimeter of the bottom and wherein the channel isconcentric relative to an axis of the circumferential wall of thecartridge.
 48. A disposable cartridge according to claim 37, wherein avalve member is arranged within the reservoir of the cartridge andoutside of the column, which valve member is stationary arranged withinthe cartridge so as to be movable relative to the column when the columnis moved from a higher initial position to a lower dispensing position,wherein in the higher initial position of the column, the valve membercloses the one or more dispensing passages, such that the reservoir isclosed, and wherein in the lower dispensing position of the column, thevalve member has moved away from the one or more dispensing passages,such that the reservoir is opened.